Have you heard the "cry of the Earth" .....?
Spiritual Ecology — A Spiritual Response to our Present Ecological Crisis
A Collection of Essays, Edited by Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee, GSC Publication, 2013
The Zen Master — Thich Nhat Hanh — was asked what we need to do to save our world. “What we most need to do,” he replied, “is to hear within us the sound of the earth crying.”
Our present ecological crisis is the greatest man-made disaster this planet has ever faced—its accelerating climate change, species depletion, pollution and acidification of the oceans. A central but rarely addressed aspect of this crisis is our forgetfulness of the sacred nature of creation, and how this affects our relationship to the environment. There is a pressing need to articulate a spiritual response to this ecological crisis. This is vital and necessary if we are to help bring the world as a living whole back into balance.
From the INTRODUCTION
The earth is in distress and is calling to us, sending us signs of the extremity of its imbalance through earthquakes and tsunamis, floods and storms, drought, unprecedented heat. There are now indications that its ecosystem as a whole may even be approaching a “tipping point” or “state shift” of irreversible change with unforeseeable consequences.
This book is a collection of responses to the call of the earth. It is not offered as a solution to a problem because the world is not a problem; it is a living being in distress. The signs of global imbalance, the tsunamis, the destruction of the coral reefs, are not just physical symptoms. As Thich Nhat Hanh writes, these are “bells of mindfulness,” calling us to be attentive, to wake up and listen. The earth needs our attention. It needs us to help heal its body, damaged by our exploitation, and also its soul, wounded by our desecration, our forgetfulness of its sacred nature. Only when we remember what is sacred can we bring any real awareness to our present predicament.
Contributors include: Chief Oren Lyons, Thich Nhat Hanh, Sandra Ingerman, Joanna Macy, Sister Miriam MacGillis, Satish Kumar, Vandana Shiva, Fr. Richard Rohr, Bill Plotkin, Jules Cashford, Wendell Berry, Winona LaDuke, Mary Evelyn Tucker, Brian Swimme, and others.
BOOK REVIEWS —
>>> “It’s hard to imagine finding a wiser group of humans than the authors represented here, all of them both thinkers and do-ers in the greatest battle humans have ever faced. An epic collection!” —BILL MCKIBBEN, founder 350.org
>>> “This book provides fresh thinking about the spiritual approaches of consciously and consistently making the right choices, each of us within our respective sphere of influence. As the world works towards a new global climate agreement in 2015, it is in our interest and in the interest of future generations to reflect on how we can individually and collectively contribute to addressing climate change by making our economies and lifestyles more sustainable, because solving climate change can help solve many of the issues the earth currently faces. Climate change is therefore both a challenge and an opportunity. I hope this book inspires and energizes many readers eager to rise to the greatest challenge ever to face humanity by realizing the transformative opportunities we have in front of us.” —CHRISTIANA FIGUERES, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
>>> “We live in a time of ecological uncertainty and we need opportunities to reconnect with the sacred. Just as scientists are modern-day prophets who tell us why we must act to save our planet, the essayists in this book are sages who remind us why that work is worthwhile.” —THE REV. CANON SALLY G. BINGHAM, founder,The Regeneration Project – Interfaith Power & Light
>>> “In my scholarly work I have explored our Earth for signs of life in defense of life. The signs can be found in a host of social movements around the world, which are inspired by a growing chorus of passionate voices. This volume provides direct access to many of these voices, some well known, others less so, all wise. It belongs in public and university libraries, the classroom, and wherever activists gather for inspiration and action.”—BRON TAYLOR, professor of religion and nature, editor of The Journal for theStudy of Religion, Nature & Culture, author Dark Green Religion: Nature Spirituality and the Planetary Furure, www.brontaylor.com
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VIDEO: Spiritual Ecology: The Cry of the Earth Book Trailer
A Collection of Essays, Edited by Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee: NOW AVAILABLE
Showing the deep connection between our present ecological crisis and our lack of awareness of the sacred nature of creation, this series of essays from spiritual and environmental leaders around the world shows how humanity can transform its relationship with the Earth. Combining the thoughts and beliefs from a diverse range of essayists, this collection highlights the current ecological crisis and articulates a much-needed spiritual response to it. Perspectives from Buddhism, Sufism, Christianity, and Native American beliefs as well as physics, deep psychology, and other environmental disciplines, make this a well-rounded contribution.
More information about the book
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AUDIO: Discussion on Spiritual Ecology
Audio Recording of the Bioneers 2013 panel discussion on Spiritual Ecology with Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee; deep-ecologist and author Joanna Macy; and Dekila Chungyalpa, director of the World Wildlife Fund’s Sacred Earth program. (1 hr + 25 min)
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